NEW SERIES BEGINS January 22, 2017

About This Study

Don’t just survive. Thrive!

The Book of Philippians addresses many of our deepest questions.

• Where can we find full and lasting joy? Look and listen to Paul. He radiated a contagious joy throughout his letter. Indeed, the happiest man in Rome was the apostle in prison! Paul reminds us that we don’t derive ultimate joy from comfortable circumstances, but from a living, vibrant communion with Christ. Joy isn’t about attaining more stuff; it’s about treasuring Christ more.

• Where can we find meaning and purpose in life? Paul teaches us about a life worth living – and a death worth dying. He shows us the path to living this life by pointing us to Jesus, who provides the power and the example we need. 

The Christian life isn’t an easy life, but it’s full. It’s joyful. It’s the kind of life you’ve always been looking for and always wanted to lead.

Of course, Jesus never promised us that life would be easy. But He did promise He would always be with us. And if He is with us, we have everything we need for joy and peace.

We can do more than just live as we follow Christ. We can thrive!

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Lessons in the Series

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Our lesson this week says that...

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

A few years back, Pharrell Williams launched the song “Happy” as a global sensation. But I wonder if the people singing it then have remained happy over the years. These days, perhaps many of them would prefer U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” 

Such people wouldn’t be alone in history. 

King Solomon, who had an abundance of wealth and women, confessed: “Absolute futility. Everything is futile” (Eccl. 1:2). Alexander the Great is reported to have wept in his tent saying, “There are no more worlds to conquer.” Tom Brady, after his third NFL championship, remarked, “There’s got to be more than this.” 

Where can we go to find full and lasting joy?

If you’re interested in finding the answer to this question, welcome to the Book of Philippians! This is a letter full of joy—interestingly, one written by a man in prison.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Philippians 1:3-6 

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Paul began his Letter to the Philippians—his beloved partners in the gospel—with expressions of thanksgiving, joy, and affection. Joy runs throughout Paul’s letter, and the first time he used the term, he spoke of “praying with joy.” 

Since it’s such an important concept in Philippians, let’s ponder “joy” for a moment. Joy goes deeper than happiness. Our happiness is typically based on external things; it’s tied to our circumstances. Joy remains with us regardless of what we have or are experiencing. 

We can be having a bad day, but still have joy. We find joy in knowing Christ deeply. This may sound cheesy or elementary, but the secret to joy is in keeping our priorities arranged in this order: Jesus, Others, and Yourself. 

Paul exemplified a life of joy. He rejoiced in Christ despite hardship (see Rom. 5:3-5), and he lived to serve others before thinking about himself (see Phil. 2:3-4). At the core of Paul’s joy was a deep love for the Savior that spilled out into love for people. Christian joy is Christ-centered and others-oriented. 

Notice that we don’t find Paul giving God thanks for things; Paul gave thanks for people. Paul could see evidence of God’s grace in others and praised God for His work in them. In these verses, specifically, Paul was filled with joy over what God had done for the Philippians.

As part of his prayer, Paul expressed gratitude for the believers in Philippi whom he considered his partners in the gospel. This church had supported Paul and served as co-workers in the mission from the beginning of his time in Philippi. They were friends, united in Jesus and on mission together. 

In verse 6, Paul gave another reason for his gratitude to God: confidence in God’s nature and purposes. He was sure that God would continue—and complete—the work He had started in the Philippian believers. He based this upon his knowledge of God and his awareness of the Philippians’ faith. 

Don’t miss the fact that God is the One who starts His work in our lives—in His grace, He initiates our salvation. But that’s not the end. God always finishes what He starts in the lives of His people.

Philippians 1:7-8 

7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 

Here we see the great emotion and warmth Paul had for the church. It’s not enough to learn Paul’s theology and disciplines; we also need to see how the truths he taught were evident in his life. He obviously felt and demonstrated passion in what he believed. 

In verse 7, Paul said he held the Philippians in his heart. A heart deep relationship existed between Paul and these believers (see also 2 Cor. 7:3). In Philippians 2:17, Paul said he had poured out his life for the Philippians. In this way, Paul and the Philippian believers modeled for us what it means to have Christian friendships that are centered on the gospel.

Paul said, “It is right for me to think this way about all of you.” It was right because the Philippian believers were “all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel.” Being a partner in grace meant more than just receiving saving grace; the Philippians also had suffered for Christ and were sharing in the struggle for making the gospel known (see 1:29-30).

Paul rejoiced because the Philippians displayed their partnership in loyalty to Paul and the mission. They not only supported Paul as he shared the gospel, but they also supported him in prayer and with financial support during his imprisonment. They didn’t turn their back on Paul. They weren’t ashamed of him, even though imprisonment brought great shame in that time. The Philippians’ loyalty to Paul even while he was in prison made this relationship especially sweet.

As Paul pondered his relationship with the Philippians, he made a remarkable statement: “I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” He reminded them of Christ’s affection for them and how God was at work in him to love them in that same way. The Greek word translated as “affection” refers to the inward parts of the body; it conveys the idea of deep compassion. 

Paul was united to Christ, and because of this unity, he shared Christ’s love for the church. This is a deep love that goes far beyond sentiment. It’s a love we can experience, as well.

Philippians 1:9-11 

19 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. 

A Christ-centered love grows in “knowledge and every kind of discernment.” Knowledge asks the question, “What is right?” Discernment asks the question, “What is best?” Love leads us to live out what is both right and best. In short, a mature Christian is both biblically informed and deeply affectionate. 

Why did Paul desire for the Philippians to grow in this kind of love? 

• He desired for them to “approve the things that are superior.” Paul prayed for the Philippians to choose the things that are best in this life and in their relationships. He prayed for them to have discernment in order to properly distinguish between right and wrong, between better and best, and between things that matter and things that don’t. 

• He desired for them to “be pure and blameless in the day of Christ.” Jesus is coming, and we should live and pray in light of this fact. 

Paul expressed this life of purity in another way: “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” The righteousness of God is given to the believer by faith alone (see Phil. 3:9). We are declared righteous and made acceptable to God through Christ—a righteousness that comes from outside ourselves. Just as important, out of this position of righteousness through Jesus, we are called to live righteously. 

Prayer is a key element of this righteous life. Paul experienced joy as he prayed for himself and for the people he loved. May the same be true of us.

LIVE IT OUT

How will you incorporate joy into your life and prayers this week? Consider the following suggestions: 

• Cultivate gratefulness. Take time each day to count your blessings. As you pray and thank God for all He’s done for you, let His joy fill your heart and be seen as you serve others. 

• Memorize Philippians 1:6. It’s hard to be joyful when praying about a difficult matter, but Philippians 1:6 is a reminder that God is at work even when we don’t yet see the result. 

• Partner with others. Join with others to pray about your lives and your opportunities to serve God and others. Emphasize the importance of joy each time you pray together. 

Don’t buy into the lie that joy depends on your present circumstances. Paul wrote his joyful letter to the Philippians (and prayed his joyful prayers) while being persecuted in a Roman prison. Choose today to seek the unshakable joy that is only available through Christ.

What are your thoughts?

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This is the beginning lesson to our new series on not just surviving in life, but Thriving!

And it begins with prayer!

Thrive: Living in Real Joy

Click Here to Watch

Video: Parenthood – Rollercoaster or Merry-Go-Round – Which one are you?

Our series’ tag line is “Don’t just survive. Thrive! What does that mean? Grow or develop well, prosper; flourish. – How? By Living in Real Joy. I think Paul looked at life like a “Rollercoaster” because regardless of his circumstances, he thrived, he grew, he flourished – how, by living in Joy - What does that mean? The Bible says that the secret of Paul’s joy was in his relationship with Christ. Joy isn’t about attaining more stuff, or the next experience; it’s about treasuring Christ more.


The Christian life isn’t an easy life, in fact, you could say just like in the clip that “life is messy,” but it’s full. People today desperately want to be happy but are tossed and turned by daily successes, failures, and circumstances. But the Bible tells us to be joyful in every circumstance, even when things are going badly. In the clip the grandmother said sometimes life can make you “so frightened, so scared, so excited, and so thrilled all together.” God didn’t create us merely to exists. He created us to thrive in a life of joy.



How would you describe the difference between happiness and joy?

• Joy goes deeper than happiness. Happiness is typically based on external things; it’s tied to our circumstances. Joy remains with us regardless of what we have or are experiencing. We can be having a bad day, but still have joy. We find joy in knowing Christ deeply. The secret to joy is in keeping our priorities arranged in this order: Jesus, Others, and Yourself. Paul exemplified a life of joy. He rejoiced in Christ despite hardship and he lived to serve others before thinking about himself. At the core of Paul’s joy was a deep love for the Savior that spilled out into love for people. Paul was filled with joy over what God had done for the Philippians. Christian joy is Christ-centered and others-oriented. Joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God’s love and work in our lives – that He will be there no matter what! Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Christ.

• Kay Warren — true joy that can only come from God. Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of the details of life, the quiet confidence that everything will be OK and the determined choice to praise Him. But when we choose joy over happiness, we discover God's hidden blessings in the good and bad of life — and in the differences between us. Joy is a choice, and we have learned to make that choice every day. – Kay Warren “Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough” 

Having joy is very similar to having enthusiasm.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great is ever accomplished without enthusiasm.” You’ve got to have passion, you’ve got to have enthusiasm. Having enthusiasm is very similar to having joy amidst the day-to-day difficulties of life, you may say, “Well, how do you do that?” “Do I just have to think positively?” Positive thinking isn’t enough. Pulling yourself up by your psychological bootstraps isn’t enough. Talking yourself into optimism isn’t enough. The way you become and stay enthusiastic in life is found in the word “enthusiasm.” The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek phrase en theos. En is the Greek word for the English word “in.” Theos is the Greek word for “God.” So en theos means to be “in God.” When you get in God, you will be enthusiastic. This kind of enthusiasm, like joy isn’t affected by the economy or the weather or your circumstances. It’s eternal because you are tied to the eternal God. You are in Christ. Paul tells us how to do this in

Romans 12:11-12. He says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (NIV).

Where can we go to find full and lasting joy?

Welcome to the Book of Philippians! 

This is a letter full of joy—interestingly, one written by a man in prison.

Six lessons from Paul’s joy letter to the Philippian church on how we can Thrive by living in real joy and it begins with prayer.

Philippians 1:3-11

Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy.

Many times, our prayers are limited to asking God to do something, to intervene in a crisis, or to fix a problem. True? And this is fine, the Bible is full of invitations for us to call on God to work, but our prayers should also reflect the truth that God already has been at work and continues to work in our lives. When we recall His work in our lives and in the lives of others, in our prayers, we can experience real joy!



I. Pray with Joy for what God has done Philippians 1:3-6

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
The church in Philippi consisted mostly of Gentile (non-Jewish) believers. The Philippians were remembered with joy and thanksgiving whenever Paul prayed.


What does gratitude have to do with joy?

• “It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.” – Jesuit Priest
• A practiced gratitude: For Paul, every time he remembered his Philippian brothers and sisters he gave thanks! Biblical joy is not conditioned on circumstances, as is happiness. No, for Paul, joy was in the Lord and being in the Lord. This joy is a product of faith in Him. Though Paul had personal reasons to be distressed and concerned for himself, he did not allow those circumstances to depress his joy in the Lord, and for those special friends whom he knew to be the Lord’s people.
• Gratitude: Brené Brown talks about how the practice of gratitude can lead to a joyful life and what, exactly, that practice looks like. It's not the "attitude of gratitude" you might think. So, what does a gratitude practice look like? It’s keeping gratitude journals, doing daily gratitude meditations or prayers, creating gratitude art, and even stopping during a stressful, busy day to actually say these words out loud: “I am grateful for . . .” It seems that gratitude without practice may be a little like faith without works—it’s not alive.

Giving thanks to God is a great way to experience joy in your prayers. Take a moment and list 5 blessings that have brightened your life this year.

1. My salvation, wife, family, friends, the losts.

2. My relationship with Christ. The change that will bring. What God is doing now.

3. The opportunity to serve. To play a part.


What had God done that caused Paul to pray with joy?

• He had started a good work in them. Paul’s second reason for gratitude and joy was not because of anything the Philippians had done themselves, but what God had done in them. What had God done? He had given them grace which made them who they were spiritually, and manifested in their commitment to be Paul’s partners in the gospel. The Philippians were willing to be used by God for whatever He wanted them to do. 
• Notice that we don’t find Paul giving God thanks for things; Paul gave thanks for people. Paul could see evidence of God’s grace in others and praised God for His work in them. In these verses, specifically, Paul was filled with joy over what God had done for the Philippians.
• His Philippian friends had shared the gospel through their own witness. They, for the most part, had lived out the gospel in unity. They understood that fellowship in the gospel was not a sentiment but an action. They had shared in Paul’s ministry by praying for him, loving him, and encouraging him. In addition, they had provided financial support to him personally as well as to other churches in need. By helping Paul, they were helping Christ’s cause.

6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

• God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. 
• His work in us began when we first believed.
• Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. Paul is describing the process of Christian growth and maturity that began when we accepted Jesus and continues until Christ returns. 
• When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God’s promises and provision. Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to Him. 

Point: We can have joy in the fellowship we have with others in Christ.

We should rejoice (with gratitude) in the work of grace God has performed in our lives. We should rejoice (with gratitude) in knowing that God is moving us forward to the day of Christ’s return. We can know the joy of the Lord no matter the situation, for God is greater than any of life’s circumstances.



In verses 7-8 we see an example of what it looks like to pray with joy even when circumstances are not ideal.

II. Pray with Joy for what God is doing Philippians 1:7-8

7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Why did Paul say that it was right for him to think this way about all of the Philippians?

• It was right because the Philippian believers were “all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel.” Being a partner in grace meant more than just receiving saving grace; the Philippians also had suffered for Christ and were sharing in the struggle for making the gospel known (see 1:29-30).

How does serving God’s kingdom create a unique bond between people?

• Paul and the Philippian believers modeled for us what it means to have Christian friendships that are centered on the gospel. 
• Have you ever longed to see a friend with whom you shared fond memories? Paul had such a longing to see the Christians at Philippi. His love and affection for them was based not merely on past experiences, but also on the unity that comes when believers draw upon Christ’s love. All Christians are part of God’s family and thus share equally in the transforming power of His love. 
• Do you feel a deep love for fellow Christians, friends and strangers alike? Let Christ’s love motivate you to love other Christians and to express that love in your actions toward them.

Point: We can rejoice in that, as believers, we are bound together in the love of Christ.



We can rejoice in that even during difficult times fellow believers lovingly stand with us.


In verses 9-11 we will see an example of praying for the spiritual growth of others.

III. Pray with Joy for what God will continue to do Philippians 1:9-11

19 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

The Bible says that often the best way to influence someone is to pray for them. Paul’s prayer for the Philippians was that they would be unified in love. Their love was to result in greater knowledge of Christ and deeper insight (moral discernment). Their love was not based on feelings but on what Christ had done for them.

Why are both knowledge and discernment necessary ingredients for loving others?


A Christ-centered love grows in “knowledge and discernment.”

• Knowledge asks the question, “What is right?”
• Discernment asks the question, “What is best?”

A Christ-centered love leads us to live out what is both right and best.


Which is the greater struggle for you: to be biblically knowledgeable and discerning about the truth, or to love people deeply, with great affection?


Point: We thank God for what He has done in our lives, and we recognize He wants to do much more if we continue to submit ourselves to Him.


The character of our lives gives evidence that we are in right relationship to God through Jesus Christ. As Christians, all we do is to be to the end that God is glorified and praised.

LIVE IT OUT

Most of us have a friend or family member with whom we enjoy talking. The subject is not as important as the deep, personal feelings that bind us together. We can talk about the past, present, or future with delight unmatched by conversations with most others.



Transfer those feelings to time spent in prayer, an intimate conversation with God. How joy-filled are those moments for you? We should express gratitude with joy for what He has done, joyfully seek to join Him in what He is doing presently, and rejoice even now as we anticipate what He will continue to do in our future here and in eternity.

• Cultivate gratefulness. Take time each day to count your blessings. As you pray and thank God for all He’s done for you, let His joy fill your heart and be seen as you serve others.

• Memorize Philippians 1:6. It’s hard to be joyful when praying about a difficult matter, but Philippians 1:6 is a reminder that God is at work even when we don’t see the result.

• Partner with others. Join with others to pray about your lives and your opportunities to serve God and others. Emphasize the importance of joy each time you pray together.

Wrap it Up

Don’t buy into the lie that joy depends on your present circumstances. Paul wrote his joyful letter to the Philippians (and prayed his joyful prayers) while being persecuted in a Roman prison. Choose today to seek the unshakable joy that is only available through Christ.


Conclude by expressing joy at the privilege of connecting with God through prayer. Commit to taking advantage of that opportunity in the days to come.


Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan